Burgerville Fires IWW Member, Union Calls for Picket

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Report from the Burgerville Workers Union of the IWW, details yet another unjust firing by corporate. The union is now calling for a picket on Friday, June 15th.

Our coworker Matt, at the 82nd & Glisan location, was suspended last week and fired yesterday —for dropping a headset. What management won’t acknowledge is that Matt dropped his headset in frustration because it was broken. Whatever the case, this type of extreme discipline is unacceptable as a first response to workers problems and we will not stand for it.

Before Matt, three crew members have been fired in the last month for minor transgressions. Kellan got fired for eating a piece of bacon that he then offered to pay for, Ben for adding hazelnuts to his meal (a service we offer free of charge to our customers), and Pernell for eating one single fry that was growing old in the fry bin.

"Hello, I am a member of the community Burgerville claims to support. I am disturbed by the stories of workers at the Montavilla Burgerville. Your community is watching this decision. Don't fire Matt."

Management has not been shy about the fact that they are making examples out of these workers. They are creating a climate of fear through these firings, and Matt is simply their next victim.

Earlier in the month, when management and HR congratulated workers’ faster speed of service times, Matt broke the room’s silence to explain what improved their productivity: fear of being disciplined. His coworkers nodded and agreed, and now he’s been punished in order to keep the rest of us in line. The message to workers is loud and clear: keep your emotions in check, or else you’ll be fired too.

The union will not take this lightly. We never forget and we always fight. We are a union because we defend and stand up for each other by taking direct action, and that is how we will respond to the latest incident in Burgerville’s long tradition of unjust firings. We must demonstrate that we won’t accept unjust firings in our workplace! We need the community to show Burgerville that they are watching this closely, so spread the word and we’ll see you on Friday.

Picket Friday, June 15th

We are picketing on Friday, 5-7pm. Please note the date change from Thursday to Friday! We will rally at the covered pavilion in Montavilla Park at 5pm before marching to 82nd & Glisan to picket.

We never forget and we always fight. We are a union because we defend and stand up for each other by taking direct action, and that is how we will respond to the latest incident in Burgerville’s long tradition of unjust firings. We need the community to show Burgerville that they are watching this closely, so spread the word and we’ll see you on Friday!

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